When I found the rigged envelopes in the cliffside house at Tidewatch Coast, my fiancé was on the lawn, finishing his third event with his former partner.
The so-called Founding Families Decathlon claimed that partners were chosen at random from wax-sealed envelopes.
I was the only one who hadn’t been allowed to draw.
Graham had said that since I hadn’t completed my pack oath and we hadn’t finished our partner registration, I was best suited to handle drinks, watch the pups, keep score, and take photos.
For the first three rounds, he drew Blair every single time.
Blindfolded feeding. Tandem rowing. Then a slow dance, close and intimate, to an old family tune everyone knew.
They moved together with the ease of two people whose deregistration papers might as well have never existed.
I stood there holding the camera while friends of the Whitmore family sang their praises.
“For the pups’ sake, you two are still the most complete family.”
After Blair won the third round, she smiled at me.
“Thanks for organizing everything so thoughtfully. You don’t mind, do you?”
I bit down hard and went to the storage room for spare scorecards.
In the trash, I saw a torn envelope.
Along the dark wax seal was a faint indentation—subtle enough to hide from most, but obvious to anyone who knew what to look for.
I took out the remaining envelopes and held them to the light, one by one.
Every single one had a different mark.
The draw had never been random. It had all been arranged.
It wasn’t just bad luck.
Before I’d even sworn my oath to this pack, they had already crossed me out of the family.
Outside the door, I heard Graham and Blair laughing again.
Someone knocked and told me to get back out there to keep score.
Members of Tidewatch could notify each other through the heart-link. I was the only one who had to wait for someone to remember I existed and deliver the message out loud.
But this time, I wouldn’t be keeping track of their scores alone.
He Put His Ex First So I Found My True Mate Chapter 20 The next morning, I opened the drive in my attorney’s office. Every file was still there. The marked envelope designs. The betting sheet on when I would lose control. Three months of chat logs between all six of them. The
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He Put His Ex First So I Found My True Mate Chapter 19 I set the drive on the table. Daniel glanced at it but didn’t ask what it was. He brought over an ice pack, wrapped it in a towel, and gently laid it across my arm. “How do you want
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He Put His Ex First So I Found My True Mate Chapter 18 The next second, I stepped into Daniel’s arms. He held me close, immediately adjusting his grip to avoid the bruised spot on my arm. “I’m sorry.” He stroked my back lightly. “I should have walked out with you. I shouldn’t
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He Put His Ex First So I Found My True Mate Chapter 17 “Let go of her!” Daniel came running from the backyard. He caught Graham’s wrist and pried his hand off my arm with force. Graham staggered back half a step. Daniel didn’t pursue him. He moved me behind
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He Put His Ex First So I Found My True Mate Chapter 16 Graham shook his head hard. “That’s not true. Mara, you’ve got it all wrong.” Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he fumbled inside his coat and pulled out a photograph. It was creased with age. It was from
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He Put His Ex First So I Found My True Mate Chapter 15 I lifted my left hand and held the ring up in front of his face. “Look closely. I’m engaged.” Graham turned away, as if not looking could erase the fact. “Blair and I are completely finished. Those friends don’t
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He Put His Ex First So I Found My True Mate Chapter 14 Two years later, the Grayhaven house was sold through a forced sale. Graham had failed to buy out my share. With the money I received, I bought a small house with a backyard on the edge of Cedar Ridge territory—and
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He Put His Ex First So I Found My True Mate Chapter 13 Graham’s mother lurched to her feet and stepped in front of Blair. “That’s enough.” All the color had drained from her face. Then she turned and gripped my hand, her voice shaking. “Mara, the Whitmores have wronged you.
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He Put His Ex First So I Found My True Mate Chapter 12 A week later, Graham’s mother called and asked to meet me in person at the Moonbay Club in Grayhaven. She said she was inviting me as an individual, not on behalf of the family. It was neutral social territory, managed
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He Put His Ex First So I Found My True Mate Chapter 11 Over the next few days, Graham showed up at the apartment building where I was staying. Every single day. The apartment was in Cedar Ridge territory. Graham was not on the visitor list, so every time he walked into the lobby,
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